The earlier planned nation wide protest and strike on Monday 28th September, 2020 by the Organized Labour may not hold as earlier scheduled, due to the outcome of the bilateral dialogue meeting with the Federal Government.
The meeting which was held to arrest the looming strike by the labour unions lasted for over five hours.
Addressing journalists at the end of the meeting, the Chief Reconciliator and Minister of labour and Employment Sen. Chris Ngige said Federal Government has made proposals on palliatives and other measures with labour to cushion the effect and alleviate the sufferings that might come with the hike in petroleum product and electricity tariff.
He said the meeting was fruitful and has been adjourned to Monday 28th September, 2020.
“Fruitful meeting, they are going back to their organs. When they consult their organs tomorrow, next tomorrow maybe they will take a new decision. We have appealed to them to shelve the strike.
The government side agreed proposals with them on the palliative to cushion the effect of the rise in petroleum products and electricity”
In a brief responds, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba confirmed that the meeting has been adjourned to 28th September, 2020 with the intent on meeting with its organs before then.
It would be recalled that organized labour recently declared its intention to embark on nation wide protest and strike following the recent hike in petroleum product and electricity tariff.
In a bid to prevent the organized labor from embarking on a nation wide protest and strike, the Federal Government Team is holding a reconciliatory meeting with the leadership of Nigeria Labor Congress.
The meeting which is ongoing, is taking place at the banquet hall of the presidential villa.
In his opening remarks, the Minister of Labour and Employment Sen. Chris Ngige who doubles as the Chief Reconciliator, charged both teams to be frank and genuine in their deliberations, while promising to be non partisan in his judgement.
While speaking, the President Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said, they are opened for dialogue, while appealing to the Federal Government to find a lasting solution to deregulation issues surrounding petroleum products.
Present at the ongoing meeting are the Secretary Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha, Minister of State For Petroleum Timipre Sylva, Minister of Power Sale Mama, Minister of Information Alhaji Lai Muhammed, Minister of Labor And Employment Senator Chris Ngige and Minister of State For Labor Mr Festus Keyamo.
It would be recalled that NLC recently declared it will embark on nation wide protest and Strike, if Federal Government fails to revert the recent hike in petroleum product and electricity tariff.
For effective control of the dreaded Covid-19 pandemic and its effects on health and economic sides, the Country Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) for Nigeria, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo has called for collaboration between his organization and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
He also called for continued vigilance from the populace until a vaccine is developed, saying, “COVID-19 is here to stay with us for some time until we find an effective vaccine.
He, however, commended the FCTA for its role in the eradication of polio in Nigeria which he said has paved the way for the entire African continent being certified as polio free.
While pledging the support of the WHO to the FCTA in its efforts at ensuring that as many residents as possible are enrolled in the FCT Health Insurance Scheme.
Mulombo made this known when he led a delegation of officials of the Organization on a courtesy visit to the FCTA, yesterday in Abuja
Acknowledging the effectiveness of the actions of the FCTA in the fight against the virus, he said “when I arrived on the 19th of June, I was surprised by the organization I saw at the airport, the way I was received, the way I went through all the processes and where I stayed in quarantine for 14 days, it was so perfect. It was really something that was properly done. So, I wish to congratulate you on that one”.
He also called for continued vigilance from the populace until a vaccine is developed. He said “COVID-19 is here to stay with us for some time until we find an effective vaccine. But until then, Hon. Minister, you need to remain vigilant. The only tool here is non-pharmaceutical intervention. I’m happy to see that we are wearing face masks. It’s very important that we continue to adhere to those principles of social distancing because the other tools are being experimented. So, we need to make sure that what we are seeing, the downward decline in cases actually translates the truth of what is going on in the communities.
He said , “we have your agenda as our preoccupation. Your priorities are our priorities. We want to continue to support the FCT until such a time that everybody benefits from universal health coverage”. He also called on the FCT to continue to pave the way so that its policies can be replicated in other states of the country.
The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, while welcoming Dr Mulombo as the new Country Director, said that the FCTA has always enjoyed a very close working relationship with the World Health Organisation and wished Dr Mulombo a successful tenure in Nigeria.
He said that whatever successes the FCTA had achieved in the sector was also due to the collaborative efforts with the WHO and remarked that the priority of the FCTA in the health sector was the development of the Primary health care system.
He, therefore, called on the WHO to assist in the areas of capacity building in ensuring that primary healthcare centers are self-sustaining with improved funding and better legislation.
Other officials present at the meeting were the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola, the Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu, The Ag Secretary for Health Dr Mohammed Kawu, the FCT WHO Office Coordinator, DR Fureatu Zakari and other officials of the FCTA and the WHO.
The Federal capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has hinted that, it had perfected plans to mobilize contractors back to site.
Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) Umar Jibrin said the aim is to ease the perennial traffic gridlock along the Bwari- Dutsen roads axis.
Jibrin gave the hint when he led some top management staff of the Administration on an on the spot assessment of the road, noted that the project was impeded by the incessant rain fall ,but has to be completed to relieve residents of the stress.
He noted that the projects, involving full dualisation of the roads, were not abandoned as speculated by residents, but suffered some set back, due to the COVID 19 and some other challenges.
According to him; “works would resume on the roads within the next three weeks and commitment would be made to ensure its completion.
” When we say complition, we are talking of the totality of what needs to be done here.e have some drainage works to be done and other complimentary works.
” But the one that will satisfy the traffic movement is something that can be done in then next two months. In the next three weeks the contractor will demobilize here. We can never do anything where the rain is here.
He continued” We are only coming to appreciate the level at which the rain has impacted on the road. Now that we are going down, the rain is subsiding, the contractor had to come back and do this work in a very short time. The project is not abandoned. Everything is on cause, the contractor is on-ground”.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire said it is important for the Federal Government to generate national and international confidence in our data by conducting more targeted testing before they draw conclusions.
He said, it means that all States and local government areas must cooperate with NCDC by raising sample collection rate, using criteria listed, to increase testing to a desired rate and to report promptly; as we are still far from the target of 2 million tests.
Ehanire made this known on Monday at Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 in Abuja, while saying that, we can support States with community volunteers for contact tracing, case finding and investigation.
According to him, stepping up surveillance and case finding, States can also ensure that suspected symptomatic covid cases are sent for treatment in time or supported before then with medical oxygen, to save lives and reduce fatalities.
“The recommended criteria for tetsing are: persons who have been in contact with a covid positive patient or are associated with a cluster of persons of interest, those who have any of the 4 classical symptoms of fever, persistent cough, loss of sense of taste or smell and breathlessness; anyone facing surgery, as well as for any other compelling reason. Testing for travel is assigned to private laboratories.
“The distribution of oxygen concentrators and ventilators to various health institutions commenced with training of about 176 intensive care specialists, and biomedical engineers, who will use or maintain them in the hospitals. The ventilators and training are courtesy of the United States government and shall complement what we have at our ICUs.
With regard to COVID-19 and growing complacency, it is important to stress that, even though adults, especially those 60 years and above are more vulnerable, complications do occur in all age groups. Records show that 10% of all positive cases we have treated are below the age of 19 years.
“They are also the same mobile group that can be without symptons, but can easily spread the disease. Therefore, as schools begin to reopen in some areas, I urge caution and adherence to the protocols and advisories for reopening schools, in order join us to prevent covid surge.
He continued; “Nigeria has today recorded, 57,242 covid-19 positive cases out of 479,628 samples tested. Patients treated and discharged from hospital are 48,569, while 1,098 citizens have sadly been lost to the disease.
The daily figures of the past few days seem to show a downward trend in numbers of covid19 positive cases as well as fatalities, but we unfortunately cannot afford to rejoice or speak of success, for many reasons. International news media shows scenes of upsurge in covid cases, called the 2nd wave in several high income countries, many of which had been thought to have defeated COVID-19 and which now see threat to their health systems. This is a situation we must endeavor to avoid, and for that, all steps must be taken.”
The Minister also commended fellow health workers in JOHESU, for putting an end to their industrial action. It is my desire to work with them to resolve issues of concern.
He, however, reminded everyone that COVID-19 is with us for the foreseeable future, as DG of WHO has advised, with no definitive cure in sight. People are still being infected and are dying from it. Some countries are imposing or considering new lockdowns or other restrictions because of the second wave.
He further stated that, as we reopen our economy, it is time for us to take preventive measures even more seriously. I have directed all our hospitals to be alert and watch for unusual increase in number of persons reporting at our hospital as emergency Center.
We all must take responsibility for each other by wearing our simple face masks, especially in public places, ensuring physical distancing and respiratory hygiene. Those with preexisting illness and covid-19 evocative symptoms should report for treatment as soon as possible, he stressed.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Nigeria Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) and their partners are conducting household surveys in four states in Nigeria to better understand the burden of COVID-19 infection in Nigeria.
These seroprevalence surveys will be carried out in Gombe, Enugu, Nasarawa and Lagos States will provide the best evidence yet, on the extent of COVID-19 infection in Nigeria.
Thus was made known in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by the NCDC media team.
Seroprevalence surveys are used to identify the occurrence of disease in a population by estimating the presence of antibodies in individuals who have had the disease.
The statement reads in bits; “This is done by testing blood samples in randomly selected households in selected states. For Nigeria’s COVID-19 seroprevalence survey, household members will answer a brief questionnaire, be tested for the presence of COVID-19 antibodies, as well as for acute COVID-19, if they consent. In addition to this, study participants will also have a rapid malaria test and receive treatment if the test is positive.
“This is the first set of household surveys to be conducted for COVID-19 in Nigeria and as part of ongoing public health research activities. The surveys will increase the current understanding of COVID-19 transmission patterns, the burden of infection in the population, and the age groups most affected.
“This information will help inform COVID-19 response decisions by the Government of Nigeria and partners as part of measures towards ending the pandemic.”
The statement further stated that; “surveys will also estimate the proportion of people who have COVID-19 but are not showing any symptoms i.e. asymptomatic. Through this, the country can identify risk factors for infection and measure the transmission of COVID-19 within households. By administering rapid malaria tests, the surveys will also assess malaria infections and their possible relationship to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
“The results from these surveys will inform the response to the COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria.
T”he United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US-CDC) and the University College London (supported by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) are supporting NCDC and NIMR in implementing these surveys. The US CDC’s implementing partner, the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), will also support the State Ministries of Health with implementation.
“The surveys will be conducted between September and November, and preliminary results are expected to be released by December 2020″, the stated reads.
The Federal Ministry of Health, its agencies NCDC and NIMR as well as the PTF-COVID-19 remain committed to strengthening Nigeria’s response to COVID-19 and controlling the outbreak.
The Federal capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has demolished over 1000 makeshift houses built by hoodlums in Ruga around Kukwuaba District railway corridors in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the nation’s Capital City.
It was gathered that about 2,400 shanties would be demolished at the end of the exercise.
Speaking to newsmen immediately after the exercise, the Director , Department of Development Control Muktar Galadima said the exercise became necessary to curtail festering security threats around the territory.
He, however, noted that apart from security threats to Abuja, the shanties were becoming serious environmental hazard within the railway corridors and it must not be allowed to continue.
Galadima also vowed that the exercise would be sustained with weekly monitoring to ensure that the hoodlums do not reassemble.
According to him; ” The illegal squatters are notorious of defying the laws, and disregarding government orders.
” This is in continuation of implementation of the FCT mandate of the next level by ensuring that we checkmate the issue of security challenges as well as bringing orderliness and sanitation to the nation’s capital city environment.
” So far, we have cleared over three hundred shanties (temporary structures made of batchers and sacks. The work is ongoing, so we will continue till the end.
He continued; ” We had series of consultation with them, because in the spirit of the current administration, we don’t just move in, we are to do some engagement and consultation, so that the people would be fully be aware. And that’s what we have done with the community here.
“We are going to make some investigations, so as to know what is the land is meant for, is it allocated, but if it’s not allocated to anyone, what is the intention of the FCTA over this land, then we can tell the relevant authorities or department to take over and do what is necessary.
” We are going to sustain the effort, because we are not going to abandon the place, that’s why in the next two weeks we will come back, and if we discover that they are back to the place, we will come and do what is necessary”.
However , the Chairman, FCT Ministerial Taskforce on City Sanitation, Comrade Ikharo Attah said that the place was growing too fast and had certainly became notorious for rape and other crimes.
Attah noted that about 2,400 shanties around the area would be removed and the sanitation would be sustained.
” From my own assessment, what will eventually go here will be about 2,400, because even as at today, the bulldozers are still working”.
Similarly, Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the FCT Minister, Ahmed Rashid said; “This settlement based on security assessment, 90% of crimes been perpetrated in Wuye and Kukwuaba districts are from this shanty settlement. And based on intelligence and due diligence from all the security agencies, I think if we remove this kind of settlement everybody within this area, would go to sleep.
He added that, the exercise is part of the mandate of the Minister to clear up the railway corridors. Just few months ago, some people from this village attacked and broke four of the glasses (windows) of the train on test running.
Saying, It’s good for us (FCTA) to remove the shanties to make sure that the railway corridor is safe and people in Wuye and Kukwuaba Districts and the whole at large.
We made strategic planning with the Department of Development Control and security agencies, so that we will not allow this kind of settlement to come up within the Territory, he added.
He stated that, the Director, Development Control Department has set up a team to do a follow-up cleaning, which on a daily routine, in conjunction with security agencies, so that this kind of illegal settlement will not come up again. This is the best approach for security control of a city like Abuja.
Meanwhile , Secretary to the Chief of Ruga Community, Usman Abubakar said, they don’t have any right whatsoever to question the demolition of structures by the relevant authorities of government , because they are doing the right thing.
According to him, But the only issue is that we are pleading with the government to consider us as Nigeria citizens, as we have been living here for more than twenty-five years, so we are looking for any assistance from the government, in order to stop doing this kind of thing.
“We will be satisfied if government can give us a small land in this Abuja, so that we will occupy and settle down.
“Considering that our children especially youth and our women are living here, but now many of us have nowhere to go from here.
“We are pleading with the government to consider helping us, because the incident has affected at least five hundred households”, he said.
Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, the Minister of State Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Tuesday flagged off sales of buffer stock comprising 7,200 bags of maize and 2,500 bags of guinea corn of 50kg bags each at 50 percent subsidized rate to residents of the nation’s capital.
While also reiterated the commitment of the administration to creation of jobs through the agriculture value chain, adding, that a number of local and multi-national companies are in the process of finalising investment commitments in various agricultural value chains within the FCT.
Amity made this commitment at the official flag off of the public sales of subsidized buffer stock grains and distribution of motorcycles to agriculture extension agents.
The minister maintained that the decisions of multi-national companies and Africa Development Bank (AfDB) to invest in FCT would help boost productivity and integrate production, processing, distribution and most importantly, create jobs and wealth for the teeming youths.
She, however, used the occasion to commend President, Muhammadu Buhari, for his foresight in giving administrative backing towards strengthening local capacities in food production, adding that the administration has placed priority on the agricultural sector in order to unlock its abundant potential.
Her words ; “It is in heeding to this clarion call that the FCT Administration has been making efforts to open-up the Agricultural landscape and attract suitable investment, and I make bold to say that our efforts are beginning to yield the desired results.
“We are presently engaged in the process of fine-tuning discussions with the African Development Bank (AfDB), towards the smooth take-off of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) as well as the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP).
“This is in addition to a number of local and multi-national companies that are in the process of finalising investment commitments in various agricultural value chains within the FCT”.
In a another development, the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, also flagged off the harvest and sales of products by beneficiaries at FCT Aquaculture and Allied Trades center for youth and women in Kwali area council.
Aliyu , also revealed that the conceptualization of the projects by the FCT Administration was aimed at addressing problems of poverty by creating viable source of livelihood especially for the less privileged members of the society.
Earlier in his remarks, the Acting Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Mr. Ibe Prospect, said the buffer stock programme was an initiative practiced globally, aimed at ensuring the availability of agricultural produce to the public at affordable rate.
He, however, assured residents of the territory of the administration’s continued commitment to quality service delivery, while appealing to residents to cooperate with the committee in the smooth conduct of the sales exercise.
The National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress has endorsed the earlier decision by the Organised Labour to stage a protest alongside nation wide strike on September 28, 2020.
The President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba made this known to journalists in Abuja at the end of the NEC meeting.
The protest which might ground the entire country is geared towards compelling the Federal Government to reverse the increase in prices of fuel and electricity tariff.
Beyond this, NEC which condemned the timing of the increment, also advised the Federal Government to put the nation’s refineries into operations by revamping them with immediate effect.
Ayuba said failure to meet these demands would compel workers to go ahead with their protest on the said date.
It would be recalled that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had threatened to shut down the economy if the federal government refuses to reverse the recent hike in petrol price and electricity tariff within 14 days.
Similarly, the electricity distribution companies had hiked their tariffs from about N30.23 to about N62.33 per kWh for Nigerians after the federal government said it would no longer subsidise electricity consumption.
Also, the price of petrol increased from about N145 to about N161 per litre.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) and civil societies had also corroborated NLC by pledging to join the protest.
In an effort to resolve these issues, President Muhammadu Buhari had directed the Minister of Labour and Employment to hold a meeting between the federal government, labour unions and the CSOs
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu Monday inaugurated two committees on the distribution of grains and committee on the sales of fertilisers and other agro-chemical inputs in the nation’s capital.
This, she said is in fulfillment of the Administration’s desire to ensure governance serves the people and to address food security,
While inaugurating the 13-man committees in Abuja, the minister said that the events are in fulfilment of the administration’s desire to ensure that governance serves the people.
The minister who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant on Administration and Strategy, Prof. Muhammad Usman, stated the terms of reference of the committees to includes: “to determine available stock and work out modalities for the sales, and to arrange for the flag-off and subsequent sales of the fertilisers, pesticides and agro-chemicals”.
She, however, charged the committee members to work diligently to ensure that the exercise meet its objective, warning that the committees ensure that “grains are released from warehouses, and made available to the residents of the territory in a manner that is free, in a manner that is fair and in a manner that is transparent”.
According to her; “I have on behalf of the entire FCT Administration led by Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, the singular honour and privilege to welcome those of you from the Area Councils to this event. This morning activities and events are in fulfillment of the administration’s desire to ensure that governance serves the people and that in the true spirit of democracy, governance should be people’s oriented.
“As you are aware, it is an annual ritual practice, that the administration buys off excess harvest from our farmers, therefore, giving them value for their efforts and labour at the end of the season. And before the new harvest, when prices naturally on the increase because of reduce supply in the market, the administration releases the buffer stocks to ensure that prices are regulated if not drastically lower, for the benefit of the residents of the territory.
“This morning, in the wisdom of the administration, individuals have been carefully selected to be saddled with the responsibilities of ensuring that the exercise meet its objective. That grains are released from warehouses, and made available to the residents of the territory in a manner that is free, in a manner that is fair and in a manner that is transparent”.
The minister also stated that the administration would be counting on the wisdom, and the ability of the committee members to diligently discharge those responsibilities.
Speaking on behalf of the committees, both chairmen of the two committees, Mr. Abdul Agbade, who chairs committee on grains distribution, and Mr. Abubakar Ibrahim, who chairs committee on fertilisers and other agro-chemicals respectively pledged their willingness to deliver on their mandates.
“I want to use this opportunity to thank the Honourable Minister of State FCT for the confidence reposed in us and will not toy with it. We will try as much as possible to discharge our responsibilities with the fear of God and in accordance with our terms of reference.
“Residents of the FCT need to be assisted in this trying times. We are just coming out of COVID-19 pandemic and everybody knows the crisis we are facing in food security. The prices of food stuffs are going up in the market and the people need to be assisted. We will do our best to ensure that these grains are sold to the people in need,” he assured.
